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Police

Four quad bikes and scrambler bike seized following reports of ASB in Maghull

Officers in Sefton have seized four quad bikes and a scrambler bike following reports of anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving in Maghull on Sunday, 27 January.

At around midday, a call came in from the public reporting that quad bikes were being ridden around wasteland in Sefton Industrial Estate on Sefton Lane, including sightings of children believed to be as young as 12 riding the vehicles. A later report indicated that quad bikes had also been seen on Sefton Lane, opposite a garden centre.

Patrols carried out enquiries and found the bikes on Sefton Industrial Estate. All the vehicles were seized and further enquiries will be carried out to establish the exact circumstances and riders.

Chief Inspector Gary O’Rourke, who leads the force’s Operation Brookdale response to the criminal and nuisance use of off-road bikes, said: “It beggars belief that people would ride quad bikes on private land, with no legal permission, and even more so allow children to do the same. The obvious dangers to themselves and other people are plain to see and we will fully investigate the circumstances around this shocking incident.

“But people also have a responsibility to themselves and any children in their care not to arrange or encourage such reckless behaviour, which can and does end in tragedy. If you were in the area or nearby and saw this incident, and either have business or home CCTV or dashcam footage, let us know.

“I also want to take this opportunity to ask that anyone who knows where such bikes are being stored to keep coming forward. Calls to Merseyside Police in relation to off-road bikes have been reduced in recent months, which is encouraging, but we understand that they do still have a significant impact on some people within our communities.

“We regularly seize such vehicles off the back of your information, and if we can do so before they are out causing harm in the communities, then all the better. All information can and is acted upon to take illegally used vehicles from the streets.”

Anyone with information on the anti-social and nuisance use of off-road bikes is encouraged to keep reporting incidents to @MerPolCC, call 101 with reference 19100027515 or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 and we will keep taking action #OpBrookdale

Investigation underway following reports of firearms discharge in Bootle

We are investigating following reports of a firearms discharge in Bootle in the early hours of this morning, Friday 25th January.

We were contacted at 12.45am to reports of witnesses hearing loud bangs in Litherland Road. Patrols attended and found damage to a house and van consistent with a firearms discharge. Nobody was injured during the incident.

An investigation is underway and house-to-house and CCTV enquiries are being carried out in the local area. A search of the surrounding area will resume this morning.

Detectives are investigating whether a dark coloured Mercedes car seen in the area at the time is connected to the incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Gayle Rooney said: “I would appeal to anyone who was in the vicinity of Litherland Road in the early hours of this morning who saw anyone or anything suspicious to contact us as a matter of urgency. I would also ask for anyone with dash-cam footage which may have captured something to come forward.

“Thankfully nobody was injured during the incident but understandably incidents like this cause concern for our communities.

“I want to reassure our communities that we are committed to finding the people responsible and bringing them to justice and I would ask anyone who has information which could assist our investigation to get in touch.”

New cameras given the go ahead to detect ‘Speed on Green’ for speed awareness month

As part of speed awareness month, the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership (MRSP) will be introducing a number of ‘speed on green’ cameras at various junctions across Merseyside from Monday, 28 January 2019.

This trial scheme is part of the road safety strategy to reduce the number and severity of injury collisions and to reduce the overall speed of vehicles on Merseyside’s roads.

These cameras will not only detect when a driver has contravened a red traffic light signal but will also record the speed of those vehicles travelling above the speed limit through the junction, regardless of the colour of the traffic light signal.

In 2017, 557 people were killed or seriously injured on the roads of Merseyside and last year many more were involved in collisions which were life changing for them and their families.

There are many reasons why crashes occur but a common contributory factor is speed, whether it be inappropriate or excessive speed. The statistics also show that most collisions occur on 30 mph roads with junctions being of particular danger.

Jayne Eaton from the Safer Roads Unit at the Partnership said: “These cameras have the potential to improve safety on our roads by influencing the speed of drivers at junctions and reducing the risk of a crash. However, we would prefer if the cameras were redundant and drivers drove responsibly and within the speed limits.

“By their very nature, junctions present an increased risk to drivers. A green traffic light signal can often create an unpredictable situation for a driver to deal with and it is vitally important that drivers drive at an appropriate speed, one which enables them to stop safely should the traffic lights change or a pedestrian step into the road.

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy said: “Far too many people lose their lives or suffer serious injury on our roads. We know that speed is a major factor in many of those collisions and that’s why, as we mark speed awareness month, we are looking for ways to encourage drivers to slow down – for their own safety and the safety of others.

“I hope that by implementing ‘speed on green’ cameras, more drivers will pay closer attention to their speed, make sure they are sticking to the limits and driving responsibly. It could be the difference between getting home safely or not getting home at all.”

A number of suitable junctions have been earmarked for the ‘speed on green’ cameras with Sefton being the first area to receive them and each will be clearly signposted as a speed camera for the locations across Merseyside.

Paul Mountford from the Safer Roads Unit added “Drivers should remember that an amber light means ‘stop’ if safe to do so and we would warn drivers of the consequences of speeding at junctions, for example to ‘beat’ a red traffic light signal. Speeding carries a penalty of £100 and 3 penalty points. Drivers may be offered a Speed Awareness Course, depending on their speed.”

Baroness Newlove to visit Sefton school for anti-gang initiative

A scheme which sees schoolchildren across Sefton receive vital advice and tips on staying safe from gangs and crime is being honoured by the government’s Victim’s Commissioner.

Baroness Helen Newlove will visit St Oswald’s Primary in Netherton later this month to observe the successful partnership between Sefton Council and the Get Away ‘N’ Get Safe (GANGS) initiative.

GANGS course leader James Riley, a former probation officer, works closely with Sefton Council’s Localities teams to deliver an intensive educational, preventative and diversionary programme to schools across the borough to warn young people on the dangers of gang lifestyle.

The work by GANGS and Sefton Council has now been recognised on a national level, with Baroness Newlove observing a session at St Oswald’s on January 25 as an example of best practice.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Through our Sefton Safer Communities Partnership we identified that there was a need for a project that could be implemented at an early stage to deter children from making bad life decisions.

“The impact that James’ sessions have had is incredible and we are always receiving feedback from schools and parents commending the work that GANGS have done

“We look forward to showing Baroness Newlove the incredible work we have done in our communities.”

James Riley, founder of GANGS, added: “The partnership between GetAwayNGetSafe and Sefton has developed incredibly well over the last few years.

“We want to use GANGS to inspire young children at an early age to make positive decisions about their lifestyles in the future.

“Through our early intervention work and by changing attitudes and behaviour, we will continue to make Sefton a safe and secure borough for all.”

Emma Murtagh, Head Teacher of St Oswald’s, said: “James has worked with a number of our pupils over the years and the partnership has been invaluable.

“The workshops are informative and provide an insight into the dangers of being in a gang, as well as how the law works.

“I hope that this work will continue to keep our younger generations from harm.”

For more information about the GANGS initiative please visit www.getaway-n-getsafe.co.uk/

Sefton honours victims of Holocaust with special ceremony

Sefton will once again remember victims of the Holocaust during a special memorial ceremony open to everyone.

This years’ service will be attended by the Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Dave Robinson and takes place on Sunday, January 27, at Christ Church, Lord Street, Southport at 1.30pm.

Partners including Sefton Council, the Association of Jewish Ex Service Men & Women, Sefton Equalities Partnership, Sefton Unison, students from local schools and colleges and Christ Church all help organise the annual service.

The service will be the 19th tribute paid in Sefton, with the ceremony held on Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland.

Councillors and council officers will attend the memorial ceremony in Southport as well as members of the public.

All will take part in a minute’s silence.

The Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Dave Robinson, said: “”Each year we join others around the world to take a moment of reflection on Holocaust Memorial Day.

“It’s a time for us all to pause to remember the millions of people who have been murdered or whose lives have been changed beyond recognition during the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and in subsequent genocides.

“At the annual service in Southport, we unite the many diverse strands of our communities and demonstrate how the lessons of the past can inform our lives today for a safer, better future.

“The service is an important event in our calendar and if you have the time, please join us to mark this day.”

The service in Southport is open to everyone, with refreshments served at the end.